Electronic musical instrument system for sounding voices reiteratively in alternation



United States Patent [72] Inventor David A. Bunger 3,288,907 1l/1966 George 84/1.25 Cincinnati, Ohio 3,288,909 1 1/ 1966 Volodin 84/1.26 [211 App]. No. 664,745 3,333,043 7/1967 Slaats et al.... 84/1.13 [22] Filed Aug. 31, 1967 3,358,068 12/1967 Campbell l 84/l.01 [45] Patented Dec. 22,1970 3,378,624 4/1968 Markowitz 84/l.25 [73] Assignee D. H. Baldwin Company 3,398,230 8/1968 Park 84/1.18 Cincinnati, Ohio 3,476,864 1 H1969 Munch et a1 84/1 .03 a corporation of Ohm Primary Examiner-W. E. Ray

Att0rneysW. H. Breunig and Hurvitz, Rose and Greene [54] ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM FOR SOUNDING VOICES REITERATIVELY IN ALTERNATION 12 chimsgnrawing Figs ABSTRACT: Systemior sound ng two organ voices and/or footages reiteratively m alternation. Several embodiments are [52] US. CI 84 /].03, provided as follows:

84/119, 84/1-24 1. Tone is applied via a key switch to two tone'color filters [51] Int. Cl G10]! l/02, in parallel and outputs of the filters are applied in alternation G 1 0h 5/00 to a loudspeaker or to separate loudspeakers. [50] Field ofSearch 84/1 .01, 2 Two f g are pp to distinct tone color filters and 1'25! the outputs of these applied reiteratively in alternation to a l loudspeaker or to separate loudspeakers. 3. Two footages of the same tone color are applied reitera- [56] References cued tively in alternation to a loudspeaker or to separate loud- UNITED STATES PATENTS speakers 3,083,606 4/1963 Bonham 84/1.25 4. Three or more tones are applied in sequence via different 3,156,769 1 H1964 Markowitz 179/1 tone color filters to a loudspeaker, 3,214,507 10/1965 Williams 84/ 1.18 5. Solo tones proceed via one tone filter so long as pedal 3,255,292 6/1966 Park 84/ 1.03 notes are not called for. When pedal note is played solo tone 3,255,296 6/1966 Peterson 84/1 .24 proceeds via a different tone filter.

FHJ'ER C a 40 6O 62 30 A GATE o 13 REITERHTwN 64 OSC.

ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM FOR SOUNDING VOICES REITERATIVELY IN ALTERNATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known to provide iterative sounding of notes played by electronic organs. Systems for iteratively processing tones have not heretofore involved modification of tone color iteratively, nor the iterative transfer of notes from one speaker to another, either concurrently with tone color transfer or without, as is accomplished by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention employs alternating reiteration in conjunction with different tone color voices, or to alternate different footages of the same or different voices. Speed of alternation is preferably adjustable, and certain tone colors may speak continuously while others are alternately speaking. The alternate tones may proceed via the same loudspeaker or via different loudspeakers, at the will of the musician. Novel circuitry is provided for alternate gating of tones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention providing alternating voices of the same footage;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a modification of the system of FIG. 1, providing alternating voices of different footages;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a modification of the system of FIGS. 1 and 2, providing alternate footages of the same voic- FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of a bistable gate used in the iteration systems of FIGS. l3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a modification of the system of FIG. 1, having provision for stereophonic efiects;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system for providing a cyclic succession of three voices;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system for providing and for transferring voicing whenever a pedal is depressed;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a system for providing alternating voices of different footage, with or without stereophonic effects.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Identical parts in the several FIGS. are identified by the same reference numerals, to obviate repetitious description.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a tone oscillator and 11 is another tone oscillator, these being of the same footage. Key switches 12 and 13 connect oscillators l0 and 11 to a common bus 14, which is connected jointly to tone color filters A and B. For example, filter A may provide a tibia voice and filter B a saxophone voice. Or, filter A may provide a clarinet voice and filter B an oboe voice. Filters A and B are connected to alternate inputs 15, 16 of an alternating gating circuit 17, which is controlled by a reiteration oscillator 18, which provides gating signals to cause tones from filters A and B to appear in alteration at output bus 19. That bus is connected by tab 'switch 20 to amplifiers 21 and loudspeakers 22.

On actuating key switch 12, for example, and assuming oscillator 10 to generate an A tone, this tone might sound reiteratively as a tibia and as a saxophone, in alternation.

The system of FIG. 2 is similar to the system of FIG. 1 except in that generators 10a and 10b are of the same nomenclature, but different footages.

In the system of FIG. 3, tones of the same nomenclature but different footages are applied by ganged key switches 23, to alternating gating circuit 17, the output of which proceeds to a single filter A and thence eventually to loud speaker 22. Accordingly, actuation of key switch 23 causes iterative alternative sounding of the same voice in two different footages.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a reiterative oscillator and associated gates, for use in the several systems of the invention.

Two transistors T1 and T2 are employed in the multivibrator MV and two FETs, F1 and F2, as gates. The multivibrator MV employs NPN transistors having emitters which can be selectively connected, via ON-OFF switch 25, to ground or to V. The collectors are connected by equal resistances 27, 28 to ground, via lead 30.

Accordingly, when switch 25 is in OFF position the multivibrator MV is inoperative, and when connected in the ON condition to V, it oscillates.

The EETs of transistors T1 and T2 are connected via resistances 31 and 32 to the slider 33 of a voltage divider 34. Position of the slider establishes DC bias of Tll and T2 and therefore frequency of oscillation, which may be variable in the range 3. to 13. c.p.s. for example only. The collector of TI is capacitively coupled to the base of T2, and the collector of T2 to the base of T1, in conventional fashion, to provide oscillations. The collectors of T1 and T2 then provide control points which proceed in alternation from ground to negative potential as MV oscillates. The FET's F1 and F2 are conductive when their gates are referenced to ground. When switch 25 is in OFF condition both gates are referenced to ground both FETs are conductive, and tone from both filters A and B can be heard. If desired the individual filters may be provided with stop tabs, as 4t), 41 in FIG. 1, to enable selection, and also to enable single tone reiteration, i.e. sounding of one tone followed by a silent period, for each cycle of oscillator 18. This expedient is applicable to all FIGS. of the drawings.

The collectors of TI and T2 are connected to ground via resistances 27, 50, 51, and filter capacitors 52, 53 are provided for smoothing purposes and to remove high frequency noise. The drain terminal D of FET F1 is connected to filter A, in FIG. I for example, and the drain terminal I) of PET F2 to filter B. The source terminals S are jointly connected to amplifiers 21.

FIG. 5 parallels FIG. 1, except in that the outputs of gates A and B proceed, respectively, to separate amplifiers 60, 61 and loudspeakers 62, 63. Accordingly, tones of diverse color sound via different loudspeakers, providing a stereophonic effect. Single filters may be disabled by stop tabs 40, 41 at will, and the gating circuit 17 is illustrated as two distinct gates, for purposes of clarity.

By providing a coupling between the input of amplifiers 60 and 61, via switch 64, the speakers are employed together for both tones, and the system of FIG. 5 is then operatively that of FIG. I.

In the system of FIG. 8, as distinct from that of FIG. 5, a single tone oscillator 65 and a single key switch 66, provide alternate reiteration of tones of different footages, by interpos' ing a frequency divider stage 67 between oscillator 65 and gate 17a. Tone filtering may be interposed following gates 17a and 17b, which may provide the same or different tone colors for the two gate conditions.

In the system of FIG. 7, a flip-flop 70 may be employed, which retains one of the gates 17a, 17b normally conductive and the other nonconductive. On closure of a pedal key switch 71, pedal tone from oscillator 76 is detected in detector 77 and changes the state of flip-flop 70, which reverses the status of the gates 17a, 17b. Thereby, for example, clarinet tone may be heard as long as a pedal is not depressed, but saxophone when it is. In the alternative, the flip-flop 70 may be a free running oscillator, as 18 in FIG. 5, which is cut off when a pedal switch is operated, to sound both tones simultaneously at that time, but the tones only inaltemation while the pedal key switch is not closed. The alternate tones, in FIG. 7, can sound via different speakers, or both tones can sound via both speakers.

In the system of FIG. 6, three tone oscillators Q1, Q2, and Q3 are provided. These proceed jointly to three different tone color filters A, B and C., and thence via three gates G1, G2, G3 to tab switches T51, T52 and T83, and thence to amplifiers 21 and loudspeaker 22. The gates may be FET gates, AS IN FIG. 4 of the drawings. These gates are turned on sequentially by counter C. A modification is to employ filter A twice, once where shown and once in place of filter C. If the filters A and B were saxophone and clarinet tone color filters, for example, one would then hear sequences of three'tones, each consisting of saxophone, clarinet, saxophone. If the filters were all different, the sequence might be clarinet, saxophone, oboe, for example.

The system of FIG. 5 may be modified to use only one filter, or two identical filters, so that the reiteration is not one of tone but only that of directivity, as the separate speakers sound in alternation. Various additional modifications of the present system will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, within the basic concept of providing alternate tones reiteratively, or with different directivities, or both, or of providing the same tone with different directivities reiteratively.

While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be clear that various changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electronic organ system, comprising:

a plurality of sources of tone signal;

a plurality of gates;

means connecting said plurality of sources of tone signal to said plurality of gates;

means rendering said plurality of gates conductive in alternation;

a loudspeaker system connected in cascade with said plurality of gates;

wherein diverse tone color filters are provided in series with different ones of said gates; and

wherein said loud speaker system comprises separate loudspeakers connected to different ones of said gates.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein separate ones of said tone color filters are connected in series with different ones of said gates.

3. An electronic organ, comprising:

plurality of sources of tone signals;

a plurality of field effect transistor gates;

means connecting said plurality of sources of tone signals respectively each to one of said gates for transfer to a tone signal transducing means.

means rendering said gates conductive in alternation,

said last means including a transistorized multivibrator comprising two transistors having each a base, an emitter and a collector; one of said emitter and collector being an output electrode;

said field effect transistor gates each including a gate electrode;

means connecting said output electrodes, respectively, to

said gate electrodes, respectively;

a common adjustable bias voltage source DC connected to said base electrodes for adjusting the frequency of said multivibrator;

means connected to said gates for smoothing gating transitions; and

means for at will rendering both said gates simultaneously conductive while disabling said multivibrator.

4. An electronic organ, comprising:

a plurality of tone color filters;

a loudspeaker system;

control means connecting each of said tone color filters to said loudspeaker system reiteratively and sequentially;

a plurality of tone signal sources;

a common signal input circuit connected to all said tone color filters; and

speaker system comprises at least two loudspeakers each connected in series with a different one of said color tone filters,

and further comprising means located between said loudspeakers and said selectively operable means for selectively applying to all said loudspeakers signals transmitted through any of said selectively operable means.

7. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said sources are of the same footage.

8. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said loudspeaker system comprises at least two loudspeakers each connected in series with a different one of said color tone filters.

9. The combination according to claim 43 further compris a pedal for producing a pedal tone; and

means for operating said control means such that each said color tone filter is continuously connected to said loudspeaker system.

10. An electronic organ comprising:

a plurality of color tone filters;

a loudspeaker system;

control means connecting each said color tone filter to said loudspeaker system reiteratively and sequentially;

a plurality of tone signal sources;

means connecting each said source to a different one of said color tone filters;

selectively operable means for independently and selectively disconnecting each said filter from said loudspeaker system;

said loudspeaker system including a loudspeaker connected in series with each said color tone filter; and

means located between said loudspeakers and said selectively operable means for selectively applying to all said loudspeakers signals transmitted through any of said selectively operable means.

11. An electronic organ comprising:

a plurality of tone signal sources;

a plurality of loudspeakers;

control means connecting each said tone signal source to a different one of said loudspeakers reiteratively and sequentially; selectively operable means located between said control means and said loudspeakers for independently disconnecting each said source from its associated loudspeaker;

further independently operable means located between said selectively operable means and said loudspeakers for applying all said tones to all said loudspeakers; and

means for selectively applying said sources to said control means.

12; An electronic organ system, comprising:

a plurality of sources of tone signal all of the same footage a plurality of gates;

means connecting said plurality of sources of tone signal in common to all of said plurality of gates;

means rendering said plurality of gates conductive in alternation;

a loudspeaker system connected in cascade with said plurality of gates; and

a plurality of diverse tone color filters provided in series with different ones of said gates. 

1. TONE IS APPLIED VIA A KEY SWITCH TO TWO TONE COLOR FILTERS IN PARALLEL AND OUTPUTS OF THE FILTERS ARE APPLIED IN ALTERNATION TO A LOUDSPEAKER OR TO SEPARATE LOUDSPEAKERS.
 2. TWO FOOTAGE ARE APPLIED TO DISTINCT TONE COLOR FILTERS AND THE OUTPUTS OF THESE APPLIED REITERATIVELY IN ALTERNATION TO A LOUDSPEAKER OR TO SEPARATE LOUDSPEAKERS.
 3. TWO FOOTAGE OF THE SAME TONE COLOR ARE APPLIED REITERATIVELY IN ALTERNATION TO A LOUDSPEAKER OR TO SEPARATE LOUDSPEAKERS.
 4. THREE OR MORE TONES ARE APPLIED IN SEQUENCE VIA DIFFERENT TONE COLOR FILTERS TO A LOUDSPEAKER.
 5. SOLO TONES PROCEED VIA ONE TONE FILTER SO LONG AS PEDAL NOTES ARE NOT CALLED FOR. WHEN PEDAL NOTE IS PLAYED SOLO TONE PROCEEDS VIA A DIFFERENT TONE FILTER. 